Mark Cueto's blistering hat-trick launched England on their way to a 67-3 rout of Romania - and another step closer to qualifying for the World Cup quarter-finals.

Cueto, who had touched down just once in his previous 25 Tests, came roaring back into try-scoring form with a quick-fire treble in the space of 12 first-half minutes.

"A World Cup hat-trick rates high among what I've done in my career," said Cueto. "My old team-mate Jason Robinson texted me today to say, 'Good to see you back in the team and, no pressure, but last time I played Romania (in 2001) I scored four'. He's still got one on me but it's definitely a nice moment for me and my family to get a hat-trick in a World Cup."

He added: "It's been a frustrating couple of weeks for me, picking up the (back) niggle against Ireland and not being involved in the first two games. It was nice to get a run-out and nice to get plenty of ball in the first half."

England's progression to the World Cup quarter-finals will be confirmed if the Scots beat Argentina in Sunday's Pool B fixture.

Martin Johnson's men would still need to beat Scotland in next weekend's highly-anticipated showdown to win the group and avoid a quarter-final against New Zealand.

After blasting his side as "sloppy" for an indisciplined performance against Georgia last weekend, Johnson was far happier with England's display, saying: "We had to go out and play, keep our shape and keep our discipline, which I thought we did generally.

"These games can be awkward. I am pretty happy, it is job done. We go into the last week (of the group stage) with three wins, which is where we wanted to be.

"In certain aspects we didn't get fully tested today but that's what World Cups are about too.

"It's a mental thing this week, getting ourselves ready for the game. It's going to be a big one, it will be a scrap."